Show Notes
Samir Vasavada, co-founder and CEO of Vise, shares his inspiring journey from launching an AI-powered asset management startup as a teenager to raising more than $130M from top VCs like Sequoia and Founders Fund. Vasavada discusses navigating the “dark side” of venture funding, the lessons learned from hiring seasoned executives too early, and why the best leaders often come from within. His reflections offer a candid look at staying focused amid hype, aligning incentives, and building a category-defining company where you stay committed to your vision while responding to customer feedback.
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Vineet Edupuganti is the CEO and co-founder of Cogent Security, which uses AI systems to investigate and resolve cybersecurity vulnerabilities. With a background in machine learning and product management, Edupuganti brings a product-first mindset to solving complex security challenges for modern enterprises. In this conversation with Stanford Adjunct Lecturer Ravi Belani, Edupuganti explores how his journey from Stanford undergraduate to AI cybersecurity entrepreneur taught him to base his thinking on first principles.
Eric Ries is an entrepreneur, author, and creator of the Lean Startup methodology. He is the founder of the Long-Term Stock Exchange and the author of The Lean Startup, The Startup Way, and Incorruptible. In this conversation with Saikat Chaudhuri, faculty director of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program (STVP) and a professor of Management Science and Engineering, Ries urges aspiring entrepreneurs not to outsource their learning and creativity, while advising them how to benefit customers, avoid corruption, and create mission-driven companies. Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders is produced by the Stanford Technology Ventures Program (STVP), the entrepreneurship center at the Stanford School of Engineering, and published on eCorner by STVP. STVP empowers aspiring entrepreneurs to become global citizens who create and scale responsible innovations.
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Ryan Nece is co-founder and managing partner of Next Legacy Partners, a multi-strategy venture platform investing in established venture firms, emerging venture firms, and select technology companies. A former Super Bowl champion, Nece transitioned from professional sports to entrepreneurship, founding and scaling multiple businesses before co-founding Next Legacy. In this conversation with Adjunct Lecturer Emily Ma, Nece shares the lessons he has learned about resilience, generosity, authenticity, and thoughtfulness from both painful experiences and huge successes. Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders is produced by the Stanford Technology Ventures Program (STVP), the entrepreneurship center at the Stanford School of Engineering, and published on eCorner by STVP. STVP empowers aspiring entrepreneurs to become global citizens who create and scale responsible innovations.
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